The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league team founded in 2000 in a joint venture between the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies.
The team is based in the inner-west and southwest of Sydney and currently competes in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Parent clubs, Balmain and Western Suburbs, both had a long and proud history in the NRL, and the merger was seen as a way to ensure the survival of both clubs in the modern game.
The joint venture was approved by the NRL in 1999, and the Wests Tigers were officially launched in 2000.
Finest hour
The team has enjoyed only a small amount of real success since its inception, but the club’s finest hour came in 2005 when they won the NRL premiership title.
Throughout the regular season, the Wests Tigers finished fourth in the league, four points behind eventual minor Premiership winners Parramatta Eels.
That wouldn’t stop them in the postseason, however.
The Tigers would go on to thump the North Queensland Cowboys in the preliminary round, before beating the Brisbane Broncos in the semi-finals securing them a spot in the final stages.
Another victory would follow against St George Illawarra Dragons, which set up a showdown with the Cowboys in the decider.
The Tigers would eventually win 30-16 in front of over 82,000 buoyant fans in Sydney’s Telstra Stadium, lifting the NRL championship for the first and only time in the club’s history.
Yet, online bookie Bovada, which provides Rugby League betting and outrights, has made the 2005 champions huge outsiders for a second championship next season.
Their long odds would suggest that another season of struggle may be ahead.
Greatest players
The Wests Tigers are committed to developing young talent and are renowned for their ability to nurture and develop talented players.
The club has produced a number of high-profile players, including Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, and Aaron Woods.
All three had long and successful careers with the club, each making a lasting impact on the game of Rugby League
as a whole.
Benji Marshall first joined the Wests Tigers in 2003, and since then he has been one of the most recognizable faces in the NRL. He was a key figure in the Wests Tigers’ 2005 premiership victory and was named the Dally M Player of the Year in 2010.
He was also a part of the New Zealand team that won the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Robbie Farah was another key member of the Wests Tigers, also joining the club in 2003. He was an
integral part of the championship-winning class of 2005 and was named the Dally M Hooker of the Year in 2011.
Aaron Woods joined the Wests Tigers in 2011 and was an instant hit. He was a part of the New South Wales State of Origin team in 2014 and 2015 and was named the Dally M Prop of the Year in 2016.
Both Marshall and Farah have since retired from the sport, and are now assistant coaches at the club, while Aaron Woods is still playing in the NRL for St George Illawarra.
They will all be remembered as some of the greatest players to ever play for the Wests Tigers.
Fan connection
The Wests Tigers are one of the most popular teams in the NRL and have a passionate and loyal fan base.
The club is committed to providing a high-quality sporting and entertainment experience for its supporters. The Wests Tigers have a strong presence in the community and are involved in a range of charitable initiatives.
The Wests Tigers are committed to long-term success and are determined to achieve the highest standards both on and off the field.
The club is determined to become a powerhouse of the NRL and to make its supporters proud, despite their long odds for season 2023.
When it comes to the next NRL campaign, The Penrith Panthers are the current frontrunners for a third consecutive NRL title.
They wrapped up both the minor and major Premiership titles in 2022, the latter of which came following a 28-12 victory over Parramatta Eels in the Accor Stadium Grand Final on October 2nd.
The West Tigers 2022 campaign was somewhat of a disaster. They finished at the bottom of the table, picking up just five wins from their 25 games.
That will need to change in years to come if they are to return to former glories.
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